We hear it a lot these days, people talking about being real or living an authentic life. But what does it really mean? Some people advocate total honesty in everything, expressing exactly how you feel about every situation. Is that being authentic? On this episode, Eitan Sharir shares what he understands it means to live authentically. It’s not about performance and it’s certainly not about being the center of attention - and it's not always about total honesty, either. Find out what a truly authentic life looks like and how you can live in a more authentic way, on this episode. What does it mean to truly be authentic? When Eitan was asked what it means to be authentic he said two simple words: Being myself. An authentic person is one who is self-aware, they know who they are and what they believe. They also know how to live consistently with those beliefs and that identity without being pushed around by the opinions and perspectives others might express. An authentic life is one of conscious, confident choice about how you will show up in the world. Find out how you can live a more authentic life by listening. When you are busy surviving, you don’t have the capacity to live authentically. Many people in our day are busy surviving. They haven’t taken the time to establish a vertical mindset that enables them to live for more than their own interests. Consequently, they rush from situation to situation, reacting as they go. That is the direct opposite of living an authentic life. Authentic living requires self-awareness and the ability to choose your own role and behavior in the world. It’s not a life of reaction, it’s a life of intentional investment. Find out more on this episode. Is it authentic to share everything happening in your life? Some people feel that if they don’t honestly share everything they feel and think about a given subject, they are being inauthentic. But is that true? Eitan Sharir says, “Not necessarily.” What determines whether a person is living authentically through honest sharing depends on their reasons for sharing and the mindset behind their sharing. Are they trying to benefit others? Are they attempting to make the situation better? Or are they simply venting, unburdening themselves at the expense of others? Eitan has wisdom to share on this episode about how you can become more self-aware so that your honesty is truly authentic, so be sure you listen. Does the mindset of “fake it ‘till you make it” have a place in living an authentic life? People often say, “fake it ‘till you make it,” and the words themselves sound incredibly inauthentic. But what’s meant by the phrase is that if you don’t feel confident or capable in a situation, you should keep practicing, learning as you go until you reach competence. There’s nothing inauthentic about that, it’s the process by which we grow and gain confidence in our abilities. But if it turns into lying about your ability for the sake of saving face or covering up your need to grow, you’re headed in the wrong direction.  Outline of This Episode [0:10] What does it mean to be authentic - to live an authentic life? [6:00] How can you deal with difficult or confidential information and still be authentic? [9:08] Is it necessarily authentic to share everything going on in your life? [10:48] Does “fake it ‘till you make it” have a place in living an authentic life?